Measuring or controlling instrument.



E. H. 5mm 61 w. 1-1. GOGDYEAR.

MEASURING OR CONTROLLING lNSTRUMENT. APPLICATION 'miu MAY :3. 1908.

atented Dec 14K, 1915.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR H. BRISTbL AND WATSON GOODYEAR, OF NAUGATUCK, CONNECTICUT,

ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE FOXBORO COMPANY, OF FOX- BO RO, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MEASURING OR CONTROLLING INSTRUMENT.

Application filed May 13, 1908.

T all whom it may con/wot:

Be it known that we, Enoan H. Bms'roL and \Va'rso): E. GoooYnAR, both citizens of the United States. and residents of Naugatuck, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Measuring or Controlling Instruments, (Case 1,) of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to that class of instruments wherein one or more elements responsive to changes in temperature, pres sure or the like, is or are used to perform some desired indicating, recording or other oflice.

To illustrate one practicable mode of utilizing the features of the invention the same will be described herein as embo'died'in a pressure responsive instrument constructed to govern the movement of a suitable index over a dial.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction and organization illustrated in the drawings; nor to the specific operation and use described herein for exemplification.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a face view ofaconvenient watch case form of pressure gage embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a dia metrical section on an enlarged scale of the instrument shown in Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a horizontal section on the =line 33 of Fig. 2; and Fig. i is a detail section partly broken away, corresponding to the section of Fig. 3, of a modified form of instrument hereinafter referred to.

Referring'to the drawings, the instrument is there shown in condensed form suitable for a pocket instrument. .The same may be inclosed in a suitable case 5 having a lid 6, provided with a transparent face 7. The operating parts ,of the instrument may be mounted conveniently upon and between plates 9 and 11,-spaced apart by columns 12 having screws 13 projected therethrough to hold the plates 9 and 11 together. A dial 15 rests upon and may be secured to the upper plate 9. This dial may he graduated in any suitable or desired manner. An index 17 overlying the face of the dial 15 may be rigidly mounted at the upper end of a shaft 19, journaled'at its upper end in the frame Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Serial No. 432,564.

plate 9 and stepped or otherwise journaled at its lower end in a stud 19 mounted upon the lower frame plate 11. The specific mannor of mounting the shaft 19 is non-esscntial and merely exemplifies a preferred arrangement whereby the shaft may be maintained in suitable axial relation to the" dial 15. Preferably rigidly fixed to the shaft near its middle is an arm 20 afi'ording a convem ient means of communicating to the shaft 19 the governance of the responsive element of the instrument. A practicable form of re sponsive element consists of-a preferably flat tube 21 wound with many convolutions, in a flat spiral. The tube is preferred to be very small in cross section and to have its walls very thin, so as to be extremely delicate and sensitive in its response to pressure, temperature or the like. The outer end'of the tube 21 may be so mounted as to be ad justable; and this may be effected by suppoiting the end of the tube between clamping devices 22, which when closed may grip the tube sufiiciently to hold it relatively stationary. As will appear to those skilled in the art such an adjustment permits the clamping device 22 to be loosened and the tube 21- drawn therethrough so as to vary if desired the length of tube intervening between the part held by the clamping members 22 and the part connected to the arm 20 or other working device. By-thus varying the length of the tube 21 the amplitude of its responsive movement may be varied. This a fi'ords convenient. means for standardizing the instrument by reference to another of known accuracy.

In an instrument of the cha fiiacter described, the mechanism may be injured or distorted in some way so that the index ails to register (for instance) zero under proper conditions, rendering it desirable that a readjustment be made It may not be expedient to change the prevailing relations between the responsive element and the index, but instead to shift the entire responsive system, so that the same will be in position and condition to register zero appropriately while at the same time the parts remain suitably correlated to make the. indications under varying conditions. This result may be attained by adjustably mounting the responsive element, as by having the clamping members 22 mounted upon a 'movable base latens. Said base plate 24 may be ,ivoted on the stud 19 (Fig. 2). preferab y coaxially with'the index 1'7 Apart of the base plate24 may be toothed a supply a sectorjgear 26 on aging a pinion 27 m shaft 28' journaled in t e frame plates Q-an'd 11;. The upper endf ot the shaft 28 'snuglyeng'agedbetwfeen the frame plates 9 and -11, so as to exert considerable-friction upon thefshaft and 'prevent ts being turned accidentallywhile" permitting it to be positivelyfturned by key when: it is desired to efiecta'new'adwstment.

If," for the purposes 9f any particular instrument, it'be" desired that some communication be;had betWeenthe-inter'ior of the tube -21 and some source of pressure,

fluidpontrol, or the like exteriorto the easlllg5';f-ll flexible connection .30, as 'a flexible pipe of any suitable material; may be soldered or otherwiseattached 'to the outer end of'tnbefll andinterposed between the tube 2l and a port-32 in the casing 5. The

provision ofsuch a flexible connection :30 permitsa responsive mechanism, such as is shown in the drawings, to be used in a casing of any desiredsize and suitably located therein ,while the flexible connection. per mits ready access to the responsive, mechanism from the exterior of the tube. Thus, for example, it is rendered practicable to use responsive mechanism of. a given size and type to suit varying conditions in in struments having lar er or smaller. dials, charts or the like. he port-'32 (Fig. 2). may communicate with any practicable sort 6f socket or the like, permitting the instrument to be connected up with a source of ,control. To suit the purposes of the specific illustrative instrument, of the watch case type, a socket 35 may be provided in a stem .of the casing 5 and said socket may be provided with a frusto-conical rubber gasket 36 or any suitable means contributing to give tight closure between the socket and a pipe, for instance, from the source ofcontrol. A. bail37 may be provided to facilitate handling the instrument and said bailmay be appropriately mounted in connected to the socket stem. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such an. instrumentas has been described is of Wide utility and may servevarious different purposes." For example," it is' not essential that the respensi emem munic tion with the exterior of the'cas 5. O the contrary the instrument may be independerit of external control, as by ,lmV-

ber (exemplified; by the tube'21) be in H ng connected to and supporting QM M15 0 81d responsive member and governed by the re ing the outer end of the tube 21 (Fig. 4) sealed. For instance, the tube sealed at both ends mayv be filled with a fluid (as alcohol in the tube 21 or its equivalent or substitute and then; sealingboth ends 'to render the same highly sensitive'to variations in ex ternal fluid. pressure.

The several features of adjustment heretofore described are of advantage considered both individually and collectively.

For instance,- by ,adjusting the outer end of the tube in relation to the clamping membars 22 the efi'ectivelength of the tube may .be varied or adjusted; and if this adjustment have the effect of disturbing desired relations between index 17 and dial 15 (or their substitutes) the same may bet 011113811- gilted by the adjustment of the base plate utility independently of the tube length, andviceversa. I I

In addition to the specific utilities of an forth above;'the invention is to be considered applicable to any uses to which it may be practicably a plied, except, of course, where otherwise in ic'atedby the context ofthe "claims; also-the specific construction and organlization disclosed for illustration may be varmuslychanged and modified, as will appear to those skilled in the art. It is not Also the latteradjustment may be of "instrument embodying this invention as set indispensablethat all the features of the inventi'on be' used conjointly; since they may be'used to advantage separately. For convenience, in some of the subjoined claims the expression working device will be used to designate a governed or actuated element. of the instrument, such, for example, as is exexemplified by the shaft 19 or index 17.

Claims:

'1. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a flexible delicate fluidcontaining fluid responsive member of minute cross section having one end sealed and f the'other end serving as an entrance for the fluid; movable means supporting the sealed end of the responsive mem er and having its movement governed thereby; normally stationary adjustable means tosupport the entrance; end of the respons ve member" and means to vary the effective leu h oft eresponsive member by shiftingsald adjustable means with relation tosaid entrance end.

,2, In an instrument of the class described.

thecoinbinationnf a delicateflexible responfsiveff'member' comprising anumber of coir volutions of minute cross section ashaft response of said member;- an ind x mounted on said shaft; dial means to cooperate with the Index; clamping means to engage the -bular fluid-containing responsive member to v other end of the responsive member, permit tions of ting the latter to be adjusted in relation to a base plate supporting the clamping means and movable to adjust the same; means accessible from the face of the dial to adjust said base plate; a flexible connection communicating with the responsive member; a casing for the whole; and socket means on the exterior of the casing and communicating with said fiexible cohnection.

3. In an instrument of the class described,

the combination of a flexible responsive member comprising a plurality of convoluminute cross section; a shaft connected to and supporting one, end of said responsive member and governed by the response of said member; an index mounted on said shaft; dial means to cooperate with the index; means to support the other end of the responsi-ve'member, permitting the latter to be adjusted in relation thereto} means to the combinatit'm uoit a flexible responsive adjust'said supporting means and the .resfionsive member together; a flexible connection- .communicating with the responsive member; (casing for the whole;'and socket means on the exterior of the casing communicating with said flexible connection.

4:. In an instrnifibnt of the class described,

member comprising a number of convolutions of minute cross section; a shaft connected to and supporting one end of said responsive member and governed, thereby;

means to support the other end ofthe responsive member; a flexible connection com.- municatlng w th the responsive memben; a casing for the whole; and socket means on the exterior of the casing and communicatthe combination ing with saidfiexible connection.

5-. In an instrument of the class described, of a flexible fluid-containing fluid convolutions of minute cross section having one end sealed and the other end serving asan entrance for the'fluid; ashaft connected to and supporting the sealed end of said responsive member and governed thereby;'means to supgort the entrance end of the responsive mem er; and means to adsaid supporting means so as to shift along said member.

6. In an instrument the combination or... working device; a

fluid-containing responsive member to govern the working device; means ,to [vary the amplitude of respoilse of said member by adju'sting said member while preserving its relation to the working device.

- In an instrument of the class described,

I ppen-end; means to responsive member comprising a num-' ber of of the class described,

the combination of a working device; a tugovern the working device, and having an ad'ust said open end; a casing having a port t connection intermediate open end of the responsive member.

8 In an instrument of the class described, the combination of curved fluid containing fluid responsive member having one the working device and an open end, clamping means for adjustable engagement with a working device; a-

'erein; and a flexible said port and the end arranged to govern j I said open end to vary the efiective length of L said responsive member, and means for shift ing said clamping means along' said -responsive member. I

9. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a working device; aresponsive member to govern the-same; said member having one end sealed and the other end serving as an entrance for the fluid; means to confine the movement of the sealed end of the responsive device to a circular path for governing the working device;-and means to hold the entrance end of the re-' sponsive member adjustably stationary.

' 10. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of, a flexible responsive member; a shaft connected to and support- .ing one end of said responsive member and governed by the response of said member; an index mounted on said shaft; dial means to cotiperate with the index; means to support the other end of the responsive member, permitting the latter to be adjusted in relation thereto; means to adjust said supporting means and the responsive member together; a flexible connection communieating withthe responsive member a casing for the whole; and socket'means said flexible connection.

I on the extenor of the caslngcommunicati-ng with 11. In an instrument of the class described,

the combination of a flexlble responsive member; a shaft connected'to and supporting one end of said responsive-member and governed thereby; means to' support .the other'end of theresponsive member; a flexible connection communicating with the responsive member;

connection. I

' In testimony whereoi, we have signed q names to this specification, in the present, of two subscribing witnesses.

' .EDGAR H. BRISTOL.

WATSON E. GOODYEAR. Witnesses: BENNn'rr B. Bms'roL,

- IRVING W. R'sYNoLns.

a casing for the whole; and socket means on the exterior of the casing and communicating with said flexib" 

